Today Winter, 2014 - Northmont City Schools

Northmont Today
Published by the Northmont City School District
Volume 39/3 Winter, 2014
Northmont City Schools Remains Fiscally Responsible
Upcoming Dates:
• Board of Education
February 10 & 24, 2014
7:00 p.m.
Northwood Elementary
• 2-Hour Early Release
February 26, 2014
• Board of Education
March 10 & 24, 2014
7:00 p.m.
Union Elementary
• No Classes K-12
March 28, 2014
Staff Development
• Spring Break
March 31- April 4, 2014
• Kindergarten Registration
and Screening
April 10-11, 2014
• Board of Education
April 14 & 28, 2014
7:00 p.m.
O.R. Edgington
Northmont City Schools works proactively to identify areas for savings and initiate cost
cutting measures. Some of the measures include:
*Educational Purchasing Council - comprised of over 130 school districts in Ohio, provides significant savings in utilities and supplies, discounts on natural gas,
electricity, school buses, insurance, supplies, and a number of other items.
*Self-insured Workers’ Compensation - savings of over $150,000 the first year and
anticipated increased savings in future years.
*Upgraded Classroom Technology - required to meet state mandated on-line
testing, consolidated purchase received a volume purchasing discount that yielded a savings of $155,159.
*Green Initiatives - Google Apps for Education, a digital storage and collaboration tool for students and staff, steady decline in paper and copying costs and reduced supply inventory overall by 20%.
*Safety Improvements - Through assistance from state grant funds, installation of
safety improvements in the buildings, such as cameras and buzz-in entrance
systems.
All of these savings and cost cutting measures allow the district’s dollars to go further and
provide our staff with tools to enhance the students’ instructional classroom experience in a
safe environment, while maintaining the second lowest cost per pupil in Montgomery
County. Approximately 70% of the district’s general fund operating budget is spent on
instruction.
25 Years of Excellent Audits!
The Northmont Board of Education continues to be fiscally responsible and good
stewards of taxpayer dollars while maintaining academic excellence. The district has
annually received an unqualified (clean) audit opinion from the Auditor of State and
outside audit firms for over 25 years. The audit opinions reflect that the financial
statements fairly represent the financial position of Northmont City Schools. The
district also has a financial audit committee comprised of business leaders in the
community which meets annually with a Board member and district administrative staff
to review finances and audit reports.
THOUGHTS FROM THE SUPERINTENDENT - Dr. Sarah Zatik
The school year is half over and so much has been accomplished. Whether in the classroom or on the
court or field, Northmont students continue to excel and the staff continues to look for ways to help
them do so. Aspirations is in the third year and by promoting belonging, creativity and curiousity,
leadership and responsibility, heroes, fun and excitement, adventure, and accomplishment in our
buildings, our students are thriving. The construction projects are moving along and the new builldings
are going to be absolutely beautiful! Winter weather has been an incredible challenge this year. I am
sure you are as ready as I am for some warm, spring weather.
GREEN PRIDE
. . . throughout the community
Opening of Kleptz Early Learning Center
and Closing of O.R. Edgington
Below is a list of some of the changes that will be implemented in preparation for the
2014-15 school year:
Thanks to a donation
by the
Northmont Rotary
Club, students in all
six elementary
buildings have been
working on a
permanent art project
for the new Kleptz
Early Learning
Center. Led by
art teachers Cathy
Wetzel and Lindsay
Carter, and assisted
by retired art teacher
Susan Gardner, all 1st
through 6th graders
have painted
individual tiles that
will be placed on walls
in the ELC to create a
mural.
*The Kleptz Early Learning Center will provide Special Education Preschool services
and school age instruction for all district students in Kindergarten and 1st Grade.
*The remaining elementary schools; Englewood Elementary, Englewood Hills,
Northmoor, Northwood, and Union, will provide instruction for students in Grades
2-6.
*Adjustments will be made to the elementary school catchment areas and notification
will be provided to affected families.
*All remaining elementary schools will receive students from O.R. Edgington
*Some staff members will be transferred or reassigned.
*Some district programs will be reconfigured.
There are multiple elements to consider as part of the Transportation plan:
*Practical boundaries based on population
*All Kindergarten and 1st Grade students will be transported to the Kleptz ELC
*Limit the number of students assigned to new schools beyond those affected by the
closure of O.R.E.
The new catchment map and additional information are available at
www.northmontschools.com
School Board Appreciation Month
January is School Board Appreciation Month and at Northmont, we are so
fortunate to have a School Board that works tirelessly and cohesively to meet
the needs of our students and our staff. Our Board members, President Linda
Blum, Vice President Bruce Clapp, Dr. Gerry Espeleta, Tom Walker, Jane
Woodie, and Student Representative Taylor Johnson were recognized at the
board meeting on January 27 for their dedication. Tiles were painted and
framed as a token of the district’s appreciation for their hard work. Thank you!
EXCELLENCE
. . . throughout the district
Kindergarten Registration
Parents with children who will be in the Kindergarten Class of 2014-2015 are
invited to call 832-5003 to set up an appointment for Registration/Screening.
Date: April 10 and 11, 2014
Place: Englewood Government Center, 333 National Rd., Englewood
(Each appt. will last approximately 1 hour)
**Forms are available for downloading at www.northmontschools.com.
Preschool Registration
Northmont City Schools provides early childhood intervention services for children
identified with a disability through its preschool program. A limited number of
preschool spaces are available for children without identified disabilities.
Beginning March 3, 2014, the Northmont Preschool will begin new student
registration for the 2014-2015 school year for children ages 3-5 years who are
residents of the Northmont City Schools District. Registration forms are available
at the Northmont Board of Education Office, Northmont Elementary Buildings,
Northmont Preschool and on the Northmont District website.
Additional information regarding the registration requirements is available on the
registration form. Please contact Jo Ewry, Preschool Records Manager, 529-2970
with questions.
If you suspect your child may have a disability, please contact Pat Vaughn at 8325015 to request further information regarding the referral and evaluation process.
High School Curriculum Changes
Northmont continues to reach out to the business community by altering our
curriculum to best prepare graduates for jobs right here in the Northmont
Community. The Northmont School Board adopted a new Program of Studies for
the High School at a recent meeting. We have added several courses to meet the
needs of our local economy.
The business department will add more courses to prepare our students to
be financially literate and gain a better knowledge of competition in a global
community. Students can elect to take courses in robotics, and learn more about
advanced manufacturing. Students may also take courses that prepare them for
engineering careers in modeling and simulation.
The goal of district leaders is to prepare our graduates for rewarding careers and
the ability to continue to grow our local economy.
Don’t forget that
Daylight Savings
Time starts Sunday,
March 10, 2014 at
2:00 a.m.
Join us on
Tuesday, February
25, 2014 in the High
School Auditorium
when our School
Resource Officers
and our Counselors
team up to discuss
Cyber Safety. More
details are
available online at
www.
northmontschools.
com
Northmont Board of Education
Northmont City School District
4001 Old Salem Road
Englewood, OH 45322
Information Line
937-832-5032 or
Superintendent@northmontschools.com
www.northmontschools.com
www.facebook.com/NorthmontCitySchools
Winter, 2014
NEF AUCTION
Friday, March 7, 2014, 6:30 p.m.
Northmont Education Foundation Live
and Silent Auction
Meadowbrook Country Club.
Call 832-5002 for tickets.
Northmont Fastpitch will, once again,
be sponsoring Kids Night Out at the
High School for the convenience of
Auction goers.
Non-Profit Organ.
U.S. Postage
PAID
Permit No. 1002
Dayton, OH 45401
ECR WSS
POSTAL CUSTOMER
The Ohio State University Men’s Glee Club will be at the
Northmont Community Auditorium on Thursday,
February 27, 2014 at 7:00 p.m. Free tickets will be
available in all Northmont school buildings as well as the
Board of Education office. There will be no admittance
without a ticket and attendees are asked to contribute one
non-perishable food item to help replenish the Northmont
F.I.S.H. Food Pantry. This appearance is being made possible
with funds from the Margueritte Phillipp bequest.
Our Mission:
The mission of Northmont City Schools is to provide
students an exceptional education with diverse
opportunities so they maximize their potential and are
productive, responsible citizens.